WHY is hellhole canyon so important?

There are various open spaces in the area where wildlife can be found, such as Palomar Mountain, Rancho Guejito, and BLM lands. These areas act as a checkerboard, allowing animals to move from one space to the next in search of resources. Hellhole Canyon lies in the middle of these spaces, making the Preserve a crucial piece of the corridor.

What is a Wildlife Corridor?

Wildlife habitats are large. Often, they are larger than the parks and open spaces we have designated, and animals don't conform to those boundaries.

Animals move across large areas for many reasons: to find food, water, mates, or to escape threats like wildfire. When development brings buildings, roads and fences into an area, it can isolate animals which restricts their access to these resources. Animals in isolation can inbreed, which damages the species and leads to their decline.

Hellhole Canyon's unique topography acts as a funnel, where animals can traverse easily from the Rancho Guejito and its neighboring BLM lands, to the San Luis Rey River Valley to the northwest and east of the Preserve.

We have evidence from mammal tracking stations and regular wildlife surveys that there is extensive movement of mammals and migrating birds through the Preserve.

Our objective is to expand and protect this wildlife corridor. Our acquisition goals are heavily researched and carefully selected to prioritize parcels that add strategic benefits to the wildlife.

Learn more about our guidelines for acquisition and current parcels we are looking to acquire.